Bitch Media - gender bendinghttp://bitchmagazine.org/taxonomy/term/4567/0
enOn Our Radar: Queers of Color in Media, Todd Akin's Stupidity, and Amy Poehler's New PSAhttp://bitchmagazine.org/post/on-our-radar-links-queers-of-color-media-todd-akin-stupidity-intersections-feminism-hook-up-culture-feminist-magazine-links
<p>Summer's winding down, I'm reporting from the East Coast, and this has been another week. What's up?</p>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://youtu.be/yyijsMScdxk">The latest episode of <em>The Peculiar Kind</em></a>&nbsp;features queers of color in media, plus, <a href="http://youtu.be/tCL9JFS-1w0">there's bonus part of the episode where we get to know the featured artists a little bit better</a>!&nbsp;[The Peculiar Kind]</li>
<li>In case you haven't heard, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19319240">Todd Akin is the worst</a>. <a href="http://www.penny-red.com/post/29989130545/its-trigger-warning-week">Let this sink in, any kind of rape is "legitimate." Rape is rape</a>. That's all. There are no questions or arguments against that. [BBC News/Penny Red]</li>
<li>Whoa, <a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/08/23/toyotas_gender_bending_win/">have you seen this new car commercial that totally twists gender expectations</a>? How queer of you, Toyota. [Salon]</li>
<li>Amy Poehler <a href="http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/08/actress_amy_poehler_stars_in_california_domestic_workers_bill_of_rights_psa_video.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter"target="_blank">filmed a PSA in support of the passage of the California Domestic Workers Bill of Rights</a>, and it's predictably great! [Colorlines]</li>
<li>If you're like us, you've been keeping up with <em><a href="/tag/true-blood-2"target="_blank">True Blood</a></em>, and you're maybe really excited about the season finale this Sunday. Need to prepare yourself further? <a href="http://www.racialicious.com/2012/08/23/tune-in-next-week-he-says-the-racialicious-roundtable-for-true-blood-5-11/">Check out this&nbsp;hilarious and on-point&nbsp;round table discussion&nbsp;of last week's mess of an episode</a> (and while you're at it, check out the discussions of earlier episodes too)! [Racialicious]</li>
<li>Bitch contributor Michelle Dean <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2012/08/here_comes_honey_boo_boo_and_the_history_of_the_hillbilly_in_america_.single.html"target="_blank">on "Hillbilly culture" and what <em>Here Comes Honey Boo Boo</em> says about America</a>. [Salon]
</li><li>After a visit with my grandparents today and refusing my grandmother's kindhearted, but midguided&nbsp;<a href="http://www.naircare.com/">Nair</a> offer, my body hair has been on my mind. This is something that is talked about all the time, but that's because it's always relevant–<a href="http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2012/08/22/hair-part-i-legs/">here are some thoughts about hairy legs, pits, and body image</a>. [Feministe]</li>
<li>Stop it with the sex panic. <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/09/boys-on-the-side/309062/">Hanna Rosin breaks it down–feminism and "hook-up culture"–these are things that go hand in hand</a>. Glad we got that straight. Wait, speaking of straight, I think it's important to point out that NOT ALL HOOK-UPS ARE SO HETERO. [The Atlantic]</li>
<li>New York update: <a href="http://afropunkfest.com/">AfroPunk Festival is happening in Brooklyn this weekend</a>! It's free, amazing, sweaty, and it's probably the best way you can end your summer. And how can you possibly resist Erykah Badu AND Janelle Monáe?</li>
</ul>
<p>What have you been reading, musing, raging, or raving about this week? Share your thoughts in the comments!</p>
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/on-our-radar-links-queers-of-color-media-todd-akin-stupidity-intersections-feminism-hook-up-culture-feminist-magazine-links#commentsbody hairfeministfeminist responsegender bendinghook-up culturelinksmagazineOn Our Radarqueertodd akinBitch HQFri, 24 Aug 2012 21:14:15 +0000Devyn Manibo18422 at http://bitchmagazine.orgBitchtapes: Gender Bender Covers 2.0http://bitchmagazine.org/post/bitchtapes-gender-bender-covers-2-mix-feminism-music
<p>I like to think of cover songs as a gift from a band. In the holiday spirit I decided to put together a whole mix of gifts, and to carry on in the tradition of a previous Bitchtapes, make a playlist of <a href="/post/bitchtapes-gender-bendy-covers-edition">gender-bending covers</a>.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><strong>The Raincoats - <em>"</em>Lola" (original by the Kinks) - </strong>I read an old Sleater Kinney interview where the reporter asked Carrie Brownstein "Beatles or Rolling Stones?" Her answer? "The Kinks."</p>
<p><strong>Grass Widow - "Black Hole" (original by the Urinals) -</strong>&nbsp;Southern California Mao-punx the Urinals wrote this affecting, simple three-chord bash, but Grass Widow turn it into an atmospheric piece that manages to stay true to the original but sound wholly like themselves.</p>
<p><strong>Dara Puspita - "To Love Somebody" (original by the Bee Gees) - </strong>Dara Puspita, the <a href="/post/adventures-in-feministory-dara-puspita-the-first-indonesian-all-woman-rock-band-draft">world's first all-female garage band</a>, take the Bee Gee's hit and turn it into a garage wonderland. Also, might I suggest <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxzPeojtmUA">Nina Simone's excellent take</a> as a chaser?</p>
<p><strong>Reigning Sound - "Stormy Weather" (original by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler) - </strong>Alright, this one's kind of a cheat–"Stormy Weather" was written by two dudes, but first sang by Ethel Waters and made popular by Lena Horne and Billie Holiday. Gender-bendy or not, Greg Oblivian and his Reigning Sound take the low-key classic and turn into a bar chord riot.</p>
<p><strong>The Slits - "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (original by Marvin Gaye) -</strong>&nbsp;Ari Up took the soul standard and turned it into the <em>Eight Minute Abs</em>&nbsp;workout it was always meant to be. Punk's not dead, it just turned fun.</p>
<p><strong>Yo La Tengo - "You Can Have It All" (original by George Mccrae) - </strong>In an album full of heart-stopping love songs, who would have figured that Georgia Hubley's stab at a disco song would be the one to make everyone's jaws drop? Also, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWr6Ep8N3OU">this video</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Electrelane - "The Partisan" (original by Leonard Cohen) - </strong>Electrelane spin Leonard Cohen's rendition of a French Resistance anthem into a forceful drama, recorded in direct protest to the tense leadup of the 2004 American presidential election.</p>
<p><strong>Xiu Xiu&nbsp;- "Fast Car" (original by Tracy Chapman) - </strong>Love 'em or hate 'em, "Fast Car" shows Xiu Xiu at their best, taking an already bare song and stripping it to the bare essentials. Open up to Xiu Xiu and you won't regret a thing.</p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>EMA - "Kind Heart" (original by Robert Johnson) - </strong>I loved <em>Past Life Martyred Saints</em>, but this b-side to the "Grey Ship" single is where it's at. "Kind Heart" turns the original into a sprawling wasteland of guitar feedback, replete with galloping drums and Erika Marie Anderson's aching voice conducting it all.</p>
<p><strong>Previously</strong>: <a href="/post/bitchtapes-gender-bendy-covers-edition"target="_blank">Gender-Bendy Covers</a></p>
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/bitchtapes-gender-bender-covers-2-mix-feminism-music#commentsBee Geescover songsgender bendingThe KinksMusicFri, 09 Dec 2011 20:53:05 +0000Mac Pogue14137 at http://bitchmagazine.orgBeaker Bitch: You Run Like a Man!http://bitchmagazine.org/post/you-run-like-a-man
<p>Caster Semenya is fast and strong and far from dainty. When it came to light last week that an athletic organization was secretly testing her sex, the sports world and mainstream media got a refresher course on an important reality: while our society tries to strictly divide people in male and female, the science of sex is far more murky. </p>
<p>South African Semenya is shaping up to be one of the fastest runners in the world, but if the International Association of Athletic Federations' (IAAF) forced battery of tests (including a gynecological exam) finds she's too "male", she could be stripped of her medals. The IAAF stopped mandating the outdated sex tests for athletes back in 1992 and the reasons for testing Semenya range from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/sports/21runner.html?scp=1&amp;sq=sex%20test%20runner&amp;st=cse" rel="nofollow">fairness</a> to <a href="http://racerelations.about.com/b/2009/08/22/is-the-caster-semenya-sex-controversy-racist.htm" rel="nofollow">racism</a>, depending on who you ask.<br />
<img src="/sites/default/files/u2583/South-Africas-Caster-Seme-001.jpg" width="460" height="276" alt="South-Africas-Caster-Seme-001.jpg" /><br />
Over at the Huffington Post, Jane Devin <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-devin/genetic-freaks-semenya-ba_b_265914.html" rel="nofollow">points out</a> that males whose genetics make them sports stars are groomed and applauded, not subjected to embarrassing tests. You have to ask—if Semenya had thinner shoulders and a more delicate chin, would her competitor's allegations ("Just look at her," sniped <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/21/sports/21runner.html?scp=1&amp;sq=sex%20test%20runner&amp;st=cse" rel="nofollow">a fifth-place finisher</a> at a recent race) be given legitimacy for even a second? I think not.</p>
<p>We should have come further than this from the "if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck" days of assigning gender. </p>
<p>And, in fact, science has. Scientists now know that a whole array of factors play into sex and that our bodies' hormones and physiology often don't line up into neat male/female lines. As <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17663-scant-support-for-sex-test-on-champion-athlete.html" rel="nofollow">New Scientist</a> explains, some women possess male Y chromosomes, but that doesn't necessary make them stronger athletes. Another <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roger-i-abrams/girl-interrupted-on-the-t_b_266371.html" rel="nofollow">HuffPo</a> article notes that to determine whether 1970s transgender tennis champ Renee Richards qualified to play in the female league, her doctor used a wide range of information—not just her genital appearance and endocrinological makeup but the way she was socialized and how she identified. </p>
<p>What if Semenya has male chromosomes but female genitalia? What if her testosterone is high but she also gets a period? As more and more people come to identify themselves in the gray area between male and female, the IAAF risks disqualifying talented athletes if it does not start thinking of how to deal with sex as a spectrum rather than a set-in-stone binary.</p>
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/you-run-like-a-man#commentsdetermining sexgendergender bendinggenderqueerrunnerscience of sexsexSouth AfricasportsSex and SexualityTue, 25 Aug 2009 02:18:00 +0000Sarah Mirk2066 at http://bitchmagazine.orgBitchTapes: Gender-Bendy Covers Editionhttp://bitchmagazine.org/post/bitchtapes-gender-bendy-covers-edition
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0" width="300" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://8tracks.com/mixes/22291/player_v3" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://8tracks.com/mixes/22291/player_v3" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" height="250" allowscriptaccess="always" ></embed></object><p class="_8t_embed_p" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px;"><a href="http://8tracks.com/bitchtapes/bitchtapes-genderbendy-covers">BitchTapes: Gender-Bendy Covers</a> from <a href="http://8tracks.com/bitchtapes">BitchTapes</a> on <a href="http://8tracks.com">8tracks</a>.</p>
<p>It's Friday, and that means BitchTapes! Today I thought it would be nice to visit the fabulous land of cover songs. Because this is BitchTapes, I thought it would be even nicer to hear some covers that incorporate a healthy dose of gender bending (they're good songs, too). </p>
<p>I have always enjoyed a good cover song, and to me that means that the artist doing the covering interprets the song in her/his own way, keeping the lyrics the same but altering the song's meaning through the performance. This happens especially when the coverer and the coveree are of different genders, and I think it makes for some pretty interesting listening.</p>
<p>Here's the track list, and a little bit of background info as well. Enjoy!</p>
<p><b>1. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)</b> - <a href="http://www.thefieryfurnaces.com/">The Fiery Furnaces</a></p>
<p>Though this track was first recorded by some British band called <a href="http://www.thebeatles.com/core/home/">"The Beatles"</a> (perhaps you've heard of them?), I looove this version by The Fiery Furnaces. Bonus points to the fabulous Eleanor Friedberger for not switching up the gender pronouns (and for increasing the song's overall weirdness).</p>
<p><b>2. Jolene</b> - <a href="http://www.whitestripes.com/">The White Stripes</a></p>
<p>This song was originally written and performed by <i>Bitch</i> fave <a href="http://www.dollyparton.com/">Dolly Parton</a>, so while I can't in good conscience say that this cover is better than the original, I will say that Jack White's vocals on this track get me every time; I think his intensity really helps to capture the desperation of the lyrics. Another round of bonus points awarded to the Whites for pronoun authenticity.</p>
<p><b>3. Tobacco Road</b> - <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com.my/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp;item=110260101991&amp;translate=no&amp;ssPageName=LanguageToggle">Roberta Wolfson</a></p>
<p>I have an ongoing feud with my brother as to which cover version of "Tobacco Road" is the best. His pick is by <a href="http://www.lourawls.com/">Lou Rawls</a>, but I always side with this cover by Roberta Wolfson (in no small part because of the gender switch-up; all of the other "Tobacco Road" covers I've heard are by dudes). Although this song was written by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_Road_(song)">John D. Loudermilk</a>, it has been covered dozens of times by a variety of musicians. I like this version because it's sassy, but it doesn't sugarcoat the song's dark subject matter. Plus, I love singing along with it.</p>
<p><b>4. Will You Love Me Tomorrow</b> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zombies">The Zombies</a></p>
<p>BitchTape fans might recall that I included a Zombies' cover in <a href="/post/bitchtapes-crush-on-you-edition">my last mix</a>, but hey, they're an amazing band with some equally amazing covers. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" was originally recorded by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirelles">The Shirelles</a>, and is said to be the Billboard 100 single that launched a thousand girl groups. I love the earnestness of the original, and I think The Zombies do a good job of preserving that feeling while adding a healthy dose of psychedelia.</p>
<p><b>5. Come Back When You Grow Up</b> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Sit">Nancy Sit</a></p>
<p>Another example of how switching up the gender of the vocalist can really change the message of a song, "Come Back When You Grow Up" was first recorded by <a href="http://www.bobbyvee.com/">Bobby Vee</a>. His version sounds smarmy and patronizing (to me), but when Nancy Sit sings the same words she just sounds like she's being practical. True <i>Bitch</i> website fans may have seen me promote this song's album (<a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-Girls-In-The-Garage-Volume-9-Oriental-Special/release/549041">Girls in the Garage Vol. 9: Oriental Special</a>) <a href="/profile/kelsey-wallace">before</a>. No bonus points awarded to Ms. Sit for pronoun preservation, but I love this song all the same.</p>
<p><b>6. Crazy In Love</b> - <a href="http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/">Antony &amp; The Johnsons</a></p>
<p>Antony &amp; The Johnsons are no strangers to gender bending, as identity issues play a role in much of their music. This track, which comes from a recent <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15681603">NPR All Songs Considered: Live in Concert</a> podcast, puts a great spin on the <a href="http://www.beyonceonline.com/us/home">Beyonce Knowles</a> original. Although B's version is awesome in its own right, Antony's performance here brings out the intensity of the song's lyrics, which are actually pretty nutso (in a good way, of course). Bonus points are in order here for pronoun authenticity, naturally. (Special thanks to a certain audiophile for editing this track for me.)</p>
<p><b>7. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction</b> - <a href=http://www.catpowermusic.com/">Cat Power</a></p>
<p>The ultimate cock rock song gets a gender makeover here with this cover by Cat Power. Again, I think this is a great example of the meaning of a song changing based on the vocals, because this version gives me a completely different impression than the <a href="http://www.rollingstones.com/home.php">Rolling Stones'</a> original. This is only one of Cat Power's many great gender-bent covers. </p>
<p><b>8. I Love How You Love Me</b> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Mangum">Jeff Mangum</a></p>
<p>I am completely charmed by this cover version of a song first recorded by <a href="http://www.theparissisters.com/">The Paris Sisters</a>. By paring down the instrumentation (and playing in a coffee shop, since this track is from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_Jittery_Joe%27s">Live at Jittery Joe's</a> album), Jeff Mangum (one of my all-time favorite vocalists) turns a once cheesy-sounding track into an intimate love song. Just a head's up: The last half of the track is crowd banter. That's what you get with a live recording, I guess.</p>
<p>So there you have it, my take on gender-bent covers. What's your take? Do you like cover songs? What do you think could have been added or subtracted to this selection?</p>
http://bitchmagazine.org/post/bitchtapes-gender-bendy-covers-edition#commentsAntony & The JohnsonsBitchTapesCat Powercoversgender bendingJeff MangumNancy SitRoberta WolfsonThe Fiery FurnacesThe White StripesThe ZombiesMusicFri, 24 Apr 2009 15:25:44 +0000Kelsey Wallace1489 at http://bitchmagazine.org